Back and brace for calendars



. G BERGEN Back and Brace forflalendars, &c 4 No. 230,170. Patented July 20,1880.

N.FETERS. PHOT-L|1 KOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BACK AND BRACE FOR CALENDARS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

230,170, dated July 20, 1880,

Application filed February 19,1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GARRET BERGEN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Back and Brace for Oalendars, Passe- Partouts, Picture-Frames, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the con aiction of backs and supports or braces for en idars, passe-partouts, picture-frames, and 0t. er similar articles; and the object of the invention is to facilitate and economize the manufacture of said backs and braces, and to furnish a back and brace which is adapted to be securely placed on a flat surface or hung against a wall.

My invention consists in cutting two separate and yet united supports or braces from the center of the pasteboard back, leaving their upper ends attached to serve as hinges.

In constructing my device the main support or brace is provided with a swinging piece or supplemental brace at its lower end, to serve as a support, so that their separate edges stand on the surface bearing the frame and hold it secure. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of the improved back and brace. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal cross-section of Fig. 1, taken on line 00 00,- and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the back and brace with the brace thrown out and supporting the back in an inclined position.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the back of a picture-frame, calendar, passe partout, or the like, made of card-board, binders board, or other equivalent material.

B represents the brace or support, which is formed by cutting through the back at a a and b, or, as hereinafter described, at I) f f g, for the purposes set forth, to disconnect the sides and bottom edges of the piece B from the adjacent parts of the back. The upper end, (I, of the piece B remains attached to the back and furnishes a hinge on which the piece B can be swun In the lower end of the piece B a piece, 0, is partly detached from the piece B on two sides by cutting through the said piece B at c e, and then, if desired, cutting into the lower part of the back, as at f, f, and g.

The upper end of the piece O remains undetached from the piece B, and thereby a hinge is formed at h, on which the piece 0 can be swun When the back A, with the calendar or frame D, which is attached to the said back, is to be supported in an upright inclined position its lower edge is placed on the supporting-table, and the swinging piece Bis thrown out from the back, and its lower edge is likewise allowed to rest on the table at the requisite distance from the back, whereby the said back is supported in an inclined position. The piece 0 is swung intoward the back A and out of line with the brace B, so as to rest on the table in the manner shown in Fig. 3, whereby the said brace B and the back are supported on a broad base, and thereby are held steadier and rigid.

When the back, with its attached calendar or other article, is to be hung against a wall the bracing-pieces B O can be swung in flush with the back A, so as to give a flat surface to the back next to the wall, in the manner shown in Fi 2.

The back A, with its bracing-pieces B and O, can all be struck out by means of a die, so that its manufacture is very economical, and as the brace can be swung out in a bracing position, as in Fi 3, or in flush with the back,

, the calendar, passe-partout, picture-frame, or

other article attached to the back, can with equal facility be supported on a fiat surface, such as a table, desk, mantel-piece, bracket, 8zc., or hung against awall, as maybe desired.

The supplemental brace must reach to or below the lower edge of the brace B.

I am aware that backs with single braces are old, as in Patent No. 46,382, which I own; but for use on smooth surfaces the single brace does not suffice in goods made of thin material, where the weight is apt to overcome the frictional contact of the lower edges. I have, without adding to the expense, added an additional essential support.

- I claim- 1. In combination, with the back A and brace B, the supplemental brace G, formed at and extending to or below the lower end of the brace 13, in one piece with the said brace, so as to bear against the surface on which the frame is placed, and furnish the third direct support thereof, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. A picture-back, A, provided with B and with a brace, O,

brace both formed from the 'tially as herein 

